New Fuschillo Law Requires Telemarketers To Update Do-not-call Lists More Often

Senator Charles J. Fuschillo, Jr. (8th Senate District), Chairman of the Senate’s Consumer Protection Committee, announced today the enactment of a new law that will enable residents to be removed more quickly from telemarketing call lists using the state’s Do Not Call Registry.

The new law, which Senator Fuschillo sponsored, requires telemarketing companies to update their lists at least once every 31 days. This will ensure that consumers are removed from telemarketing phone call lists within 31 days after they sign up for the registry, and create parity between the state registry and the federal government’s do not call program.

Previously, businesses and telemarketing companies were required to update their lists once every 90 days, meaning that consumers who signed up for the Do Not Call Registry had to wait as long as three months to see any reduction in the amount of telemarketing phone calls they received.

The new law took effect immediately after it was signed.

"New York State created the Do Not Call Registry to shield consumers from unwanted telemarketing phone calls. This new law will improve upon the registry’s success by reducing unwanted telemarketing phone calls more quickly," said Senator Fuschillo, who authored the law creating the New York State Do Not Call Registry.

Residents who would like to sign up for the Do Not Call Registry can do so by calling 1-888-382-1222 or through the internet at www.donotcall.gov.